Accumulation of docosapolyenoic fatty acids in developing oocytes of the winged pearl oyster Pteria sterna

• We examined the use of fatty acids during reproduction in the winged pearl oyster.
• Our results showed differences between male and female oysters.
• Only female oysters accumulated 22 C fatty acids during gonad development.
• Males accumulated more saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids than females.
• We highlight an important strategy to improve hatchery propagation in Pteria sterna.

Ensuring supplies of pearl oyster spat for commercial grafting operations in Mexico is an ongoing problem. This has refocused research toward improving hatchery propagation protocols. Since gender plays an important role in the physiology of bivalves, we studied the use of fatty acids in the gonad and digestive gland of male and female winged pearl oyster (Pteria sterna) over its natural breeding season. Sampling included two peaks of ripening (February and April 2009), a pre-reproductive period (November 2008), and a post-reproductive period (June 2009). We found a significant increase in storage of docosapolyenoic fatty acids during development and ripe stages only in the female gonad, which indicates that these fatty acids could be a limiting factor for successful development of high quality eggs. The content of total monounsaturated fatty acids in male gonads, especially the fatty acid 16:1 n7, was significantly higher than in female gonads at the development and ripe stages. We also found differences between males and females in the use of some fatty acids in the digestive gland, especially at the spawned stage. Our results have future application in developing protocols for rearing of this pearl oyster in hatcheries. Incorporating dietary supplements containing docosapolyenoic fatty acids into diets of pearl oyster broodstock could be a practical way to improve their performance, which is crucial for enhancing the viability of larvae and spat.